Dementia Tops Training Needs of Nursing Home Social Services Directors; Discharge Responsibilities Are Common Core Functions of the Department.

This report address two key questions: what are common core functions of nursing home social services departments and what are top training needs. Cross-sectional survey data collected in 2019 from a nationally representative sample of 924 social services directors reveal 33 responsibilities that at least two-thirds of respondents reported their department was usually or always involved in. We document strong and consistent interest in more training related to dementia and in common mental health and psychosocial challenges residents face.

About a Third of Nursing Home Social Services Directors Have Earned a Social Work Degree and License.

Nursing home (NH) residents have high psychosocial needs related to illness, disability, and changing life circumstances. The staff member with the most expertise in addressing psychosocial needs is the social worker. However, federal regulations indicate that only NHs with 120+ beds need hire a social services staff member and that a "qualified social worker" need not have a social work degree.